Las Vegas Mass Shooting: Thoughts on the Tragedy From a Teacher & Mother by Nicole DeAvilla
What do you do, what do you say to your kids, when there is yet another shooting, another tragedy? I woke up this morning to the news of the Las Vegas shooting. Then I saw this beautiful Facebook post from middle school teacher and author, Melissa Deever Stephens:
“Today kicks off our Be the Change Week at school. When I awoke to the news of Vegas, I was swallowed by sadness and fear: fear that my Vegas or AZ friends were there, fear that some of my students' parents could be there, fear for our country and world. I said to my husband, ‘How can I talk to the kids at school today about being the Change when we wake up to this? How can I stand there and not sob for the world?’ And he said, ‘This is exactly why you need this week. Because who knows what a simple act of kindness can do to change someone's life from anger to feeling loved. To possibly preventing someone from doing this in the future.’ And he is right. So right. I will hold each of my kids tightly today and continue to teach about service, kindness and love. I will not walk in fear but go forth in love.”
Let’s all go forth in love, hold our kids tightly and continue to teach by our example and words about service, kindness and love.
So when he got home from school I was gently quizzing him on what went on at school, if they had an assembly, classroom discussion, talking between friends about it? He said, “Mom, the people who do this are really screwed up and there’s nothing you can do to stop them. I feel bad for the victims, but it’s going to happen again and again. It’s just the world we live in, so there’s no point in keep talking about it”.
Even after reading this (which is so comforting) I’m still trying to process what is his point of view and keep asking myself if I should try to help him see a different point of view or just let him be?
For what it’s worth, when we returned from taking him to school my husband was on a forum he belongs to that’s for the type of airplane he has. Just so happened a guy was on who knew the shooter personally. He loved his mom, guns and spent almost all his time in Reno playing slots and gambling. One of those kind of people who you’d least expect to do something like this.
Our children have seen so much more of this senseless type of carnage than we ever did. As a country we have to ask why has it become so commonplace? What is different? The types of guns and ammunition that is readily available, is one factor that has changed.
Next we as adults, need to lean in on our local, state and federal representatives to change laws. Having a personal war arsenal of military style weapons and ammunition is not, I believe what our founding fathers intended when they spoke of the right to bear arms.
I for one try to tell my kids that it wasn't always this way and that we can still make a difference.
Sure whackos can still get guns -- but what if only a fraction of the number of people get killed instead of breaking a new record in deaths in such cases? We all would benefit.
Everytown is a common sense gun control advocacy group. I get their text messages and have been on one of the walks they hold from time to time. I think they are a great resource.
everytown.org
Here is my other tip. Love to hear your comments there as well if you feel so inclined: mom: Gun Violence & Gun Control: My Perspective Following the Las Vegas Mass Shooting